Tractor mechanism



'i citizen of tliil'iiiteil States. residing at Xew.

Patented De@ 12, 1922. A

. UNITED STATE Sl PATENT oFFicE.

GEORGE LnwnENcE nmz; or NEW Yonx'.' n. Y.

'fueron muren.

Appunto inea amber is, ieri. semi m. wenn.

und useful liu roi-entente iu Ti'uet'or Merlini i liisin. of ii'liiri the following is ii specification. 'A v This invention relates to tractor mechaiiisni. und particularly to the drii'iii r iiiechiif nism of ii tructor iii ivliieliu flexi ile tread or .ihuin ciilicts u'ithvthe surface ot' the ground and is eoiitiiiuoiislv luid-down :ind

picked up h i the traction wheels when inv operation.

The principal oliject of the invention is to provide :in improved form of Hesilzle trend construction iii iiliii'li the weight of the tractor is carried h i' thi llexible tread independently of the traction wheels. further oliject is to provide means for resilientlv niouutin r the trai-tor on the flexible trend iiidepen entlr of the traction wheels. fiirthei'-feiitiire is the proyisiou Aot" u. resilie'ntlil iiioiinteil supporting device carried h v the fi'iiiiie ofthe tractor und coiiipiising; ii humilde eleniciiteoacting with the flexible tread. A further feature is the provision of a fiexilile tread ivliicli iiiiproxinmtes u large traction wheel. -ltlter objects relate to \'arione features of construction und arrange nient ii'liii'liiiill appear iiiore fully hereinafter.

The nature of tlieinvention will be understood from the following specil-irut'ioii. taken `in connection with the :ie'miupziuying: ldruivone embodiment of the iiiveib ings. in which tion is illustrated.

In the drawings- Figure 1 slioiifs :i i'iartiiil side `elevation of :i tractor. illustrating;r my improved trend.

Fig. 2 shows lu top plan View ofthe caterpillar tread, und .the driving iiieiluinisui therefor.

Fig-3 shows an end eleva-tion ofthe supplementari' or treuilY fruiiie. i

Fig. 4 shows n side eleviiton of the 'tread frame.

. Fig'. .5 shows a transverse sei-tional rien' through the trend ixieeliaiiism illustnitiup.r a portion thereof iii end eli-nation.

Fig. 'sliows a top plan view of the tread frame: and

Fig. 7 shows n side elevation of u lunditied Forni of tread.

Since the present invention is limited to the llexibletrezul inechaiiisimthe entire tractor has notvlieen s liouu. lint-onlil such parti; thereof iis are necessary for explainingthe application of the present invention. In the drawings the frame of theitruetor is designated' by the ni'inierul l0. und the forward -wheel bythe numeral '11, The rear axle 12 is lixedl) mounted with respect to the frame of the ninehine. and eiicli projecting end thereof has ioiirmilled tli'ereon :i rear traction wheel llharing geur teeth 13".'v This traction wheel is provided*'withV an inner annular gear 13". which meslies with s; driv- Aing pinion I4 fixed outlie. driving` shaftl 15,

iournalled -in :i eutulil hearing t6 carried liv'tlie frame and .driven h v the engine of the tractor through Vsiiit'nlile.driving connections. nnt shown. The traction ivheef is urhiptel to rotate in the directionindicated by the. arrow. and the teeth thereof I nesli with the flexible tread or chain 1B, compris ing u plurality of links ll) which are iv otiilly connected by menos of pins 20. e liiik may lie of any suitable construction. hut in the einlx'idiuient shown each link has a tread-plate I9* having Projections 19" on the outer surface tliereo in order to increase tlietraction. Parallel flanges 19" extend upwardly, or inwardly from the plate 19.iiiid parts thereof project be ond one end .of each plate and between t le corre- :monding` flanges ofl the. adjacent'link, the

tion -ivheel 24; The forward traction wheel overlapping: flanges being; ii'otiilly engaged 24 is jourmilled hy means of suitable benr- -iiignion the forward axle 2 5 corrieri by n plate 28. which isA adjustable with reeriect to the plate 27 mounted on the side fruin'e l0.. This adjustment is. effected by means of sdotsi28 in the plate 2T. und rholtnQSl pass- `ing! through the plate '28 and slots Q8. The

outer end of the uxle engages ii bracket r 3 0. having a sleeve. R0' at its outer end encaged h v the 'rod EKL-which is secured in position with respect to' the vsleeve hy'tlia lock nuts 3E! engaging-the threaded portion thereof. The rear end of the rod 31 is connected to :i bracket 33. mounted'on the projeeting end ofthe rear axle l2. The outer ends of the two axles are thus connected togather, und the forward axle may be iidjusted with respect to the rear axle in order mit the movement of the arm 35 with rei to re ulate the tension of the Hcxihle tread erect to tlietres'd frame. while rrmintainirnglr by ad'usting the lock nuts 82 on the rod 3l tir necessary relation of thc trend frame und by varying the position of the plate 26 with inspect tothe arm. -The :u1u 35 is with respect to the sup orting' plate 27 suplmrtcd against the longitudinal thrust 70 mounted on the frame. s the rear tructhereon hr t e rods or hruccs 52. which are tion wheel is driron hy the drivingr shaft 1:i connected to the outer end thereof and to the flexible tread will be moved forwardly. the frame 1U. and will hefluid down continuously by the The tread frame docs not conct directly 1o forward triiction wheel in the ath of travel with the flexible tread previously describen, of the rear traction wheel h v which the trend but the connection is effected through an is continuously picked up. intermediate roller chain 55. comprising a Instead of supporting the weight of the plurality of rollers 56, haringtheir )irots machine directly ou the axles 12 and 25. l 5i' connected to each other by means o links l have provided un intermediate supporting 58 located at the op osite ends ofthe ivots. 80 mechanism mounted between the rear trncso that an endless chain is formed. lPwo of tion wheel I3 and the forward traction the roller chains 55 nre provided for cach wheel Q4. and adapted to en age the intercaterpillar tread, und one of these roller mediate portion of the flexible tread and chains is mounted on @zich of the trucks 42 maintain a portion thereof in u plane below carried hy the tread frame 40. being mnin- 85 the lowermost portions of the peripheries tained thereon by reason of the flanges 56'* of the traction wheels. For this purpose a of the rollers 56. as shown in Fig. These support-ing arm 35 is mounted on the side rollers roact with the Ganges 19 ot' the trend frame member 10.1md secured thereto by sections 19, which flanges nie enlarged sion;

oneens of flanges 35* and angle hors 36. end their inner edges und form substantially 90 the intermediate portion of this urm carries continuous tracks 23 for thc rollers 5G. As a downwardly projecting sleeve 3T slidably the exihle tread 18 is advanced over th en aged 'by a rod or plunger 38. the lower traction Wheels 13 and 24 thc. rol-lois 5B of cnilZ of which' is mounted in a bracket 39 the roller chains will court with the under pirated between the side frame members 40 sides of the tracks 4:2 carried hy the trend 95 of the' tread frame 40 by menne of n pin `frame. and will at the sume time roll upon 41. l The treed frame comprises the two pnrthe trucks 23. which nre formed on thc. links allel side frame members 40". the ed 'es of of the flexible trend bythe flanges 19". The. which are flanged to form tracks 4-2.r the' tread from@ is so mounted ns to maintain thc 35 roller mechanism to be hereinafter deintermediate |mrtion ot' the flcxhlc treuil in mit achihed, and these frame memlfcrs are oon n position considerably helow the 'low-r por, necte'd by the trnnsierse fr-me iemhers 40.A tions of the pcripheries of' the traction i The upper walls of' the frame .iembers 40*- wheels, us shown in'Fig. Leo that theweig-ht are hallowed -out between their ends, as of the machine is supported hy thc. portion 4o shown at 40. The arms 43 project from op of the flexible trend which courts with thvA 106 posits sides of the central portion of the surface 2l of the ground, and indepem'lently tread frame, and curry plates44 which form 'of the traction wheels I3 and 24. whereby seats for the springs 45, of elliptical form. the rotation of these driving wheels is not comprisingl the complementary parts 45'* ailoctcd by strains due to the weight of the ivotully cou ected at the points 43; The tractor. und a smoother running und more H0 ower portion 45" of each spring is clamped efficient trend is provider Owing to the to its s rin sont 44' by ,means of a plate 47' construction'of the tracks 42 of the trend and bo t 4g, an the upper 'portion 45* of ,ft-ame, whereby the ocutral portions thereof each spring is connected-'to a corresponding are hallowed out on the uppcrside as shown 5o spring scot formed h'y n'fillnnge. 49 formed ut 40". the rollers'fitl ure suspended between ll on the-under side of the sai' porting arm 35. the enlarged curved ends of the side frames The flanges 49 are located directly above the 40* while passing through the upper porcorresponding plates 44, and the u per portions of their travel. therein)r reducing the tions of the springs areseeured t ereto by friction und making it possible to mount-the means of plates 50 und bolts 51. The tread roller chains on the traclcstin such a manner 120 frame is `thus connected "to the arm 35 as to maintain them substantially tight at through the springs 45A, andthese springs :all times. The roller chains reduce to a are so designed as to maintaint'he central minimum the friction between the fiexible sleeve 257 u considerable distance above the tread und the supimrting mechanism by rin bracket 39, by which the central guide rod means of which the weight of the machine 3R is carried. Bv means'of this constrlu'- is cnrried. The tread frame is permitted to tion the wright oi the mnchine is corrieri on `osoillnte with rcsimot to'the uide rod 38 ilutread Frama through` the `springs 45, and during the travel of the mat-fine, and the us, thi-sv,- spriugs are compressed the guide springs 45 will* permit the necessary up.- as rod slides upwardly in the sleeve 3T to perward movement of the tread freine, so that 130 the invention is particularly adapted for use with heavy tractors. armored ears. and the libe. which are intended for use in rough countuv. This method ot' n'iounting the tread frame permits the same to be. maintained in the proper position with respectV to the frame ot' tln` tractor. and where two tread trames are employed. as is usually the case. theeare maintained parallel to each other without the use of any connection extending between them. At the Same. time they are permitted to oscillate freely and are maintained in their proper relative positions.

lt will be observed that inthe form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 the lower portion ot' the flexible tread has substantially a curved contour. due to the action of the tread frame in pressing downwardly on the intermediate part ofthe flexible tread, The portion of the tread in advance of' that part which is in contact with the surface of the ground thus inclines upwardly and tends to pass readily vover any` obstructions which may be elnountered. The general arrangement of the lower portion of the flexible tread may he caused to more nearly apl-oxiniate the ieri iberv of a lare'e wheel bv l l e his using a modilied t'orni of tread frame. as shown in Fig. T. ln this construction the tread l'ranie titl is substantially the same in construction as the tread f'anie 40. previously described. but the side frames thereof are so constructed that the peripheral tracks` nl are bowed down 'ardly on their lower sides. as shown at (i2. so that the roller chains in contact therewith will impart to the flexible tread a gene al curved contour.

.\lthough l have shown and described one l'orui of the invention for the purposes of illusiration. it will be understood that it may he constructed in various different forms without departing from the .spirit ot' my invention as detined in the appended claims.

l. In a tractor. a frame. a exible tread. means .-arried'by said frame for supporting `said tread, a tread frame connected to said first-named frame. resilient means interw posed between said frames. and a movable chain ot' bearing elements mounted on said tread frame and coacting with said flexible tread.

ln a tractor. a frame. traction wheels carried by said trarne. a flexible tread mountedi ou said wheels. an arm attached to said l'ranie between said wheels. a rod slidably mounted on said arm. a tre-.id frame pivoted on said rod beneath said arm. and antiil'riction means interposed between said tread trame and said flexible treuil.

2. ln a tractor. a trame. traction carried by saitI trame. a llexible tread mounted on said wheels. an arm attached to said tranic between said wheels.` a rod wheels slidably mounted on said arm. a tread frame pivoted on said rod beneath said arm. springs extending between said arm and tread frame. and, an endless roller chain movably mounted on said tread trame and varranged to coact with said flexible tread.

4. In a tractor. a trame. traction wheels mounted on said frame. a flexible tread mounted on said wheels. an arm attached to said frame ebetween said wheels. a tread frame resiliently suspended from said arm and engaging` said tread for supporting said first-mentioned frame. and a rod pivotally attached to said tread fame and slidably engaging said arm.

Fi. The combination with the frame. traction wheelsl and tlexible tread of a tractor. of an arm attached to said frame and projecting outwardly therefrom between said wheels. a tread frame mounted below said arm and engaging said flexible tread for supporting the tractor fraaie. resilient means interposed between said tread frame and said arm and means pivoted to said tread fraaie and engaging said arm in such wise as to permit or relative movements between said frame and arm.

t'i. The combination with the trame. traction wheels and flexible tread of a tractor. of' an arm attached to said frame and projet-ting outwardly therefrom between said wheels. a Vtread frame resiliently mounted below said arm and engaging said flexible tread for supporting the tractor frame. and means for pivotally and slidably connecting said tread frame to said arm.

'i'. n a tractor. a frame.A traction wheels mounted on said traine. a flexible tread mounted on said wheels. an arm attached to Said frame between said wheels. a tread frame mounted below said arm and having a combination pivotal and slidable connec tion therewith. said tread frame engaging said flexible tread to prevent upward bending thereof. and a plurality of springs interposed between said arm and said tread frame for absorbing the upward thrusts encountered by the latter,

3. ln a tractor. a frame. traction wheels mounted on said frame. a flexible tread mounted on said wheels. an arm attached to said trame between said wheels. a tread frame resiliently suspended from said arm. said tread frame heilig provided with a plurality of annular tracks. and movable chains of bearing elements` mounted on Said tracks and coat-.ting with said flexible tread.

S). ln a tractor. a frame. traction wheels mounted on said lr-ame. a l'lexible tread mounted on said wheels. an arm attached to said l'rame" between said wheels. a tread frame resiliently suspended from said arm. said tread frame being provided with a plurality of' annular tracks. movable chainsl of bearing elements mounted on said tracks and vmutingf withv Shitl flexible trend, and Haugen on said bearing elements adapted to overlie ille `sides of said tlzulh und .said trend.

1li. In i ti'aeton a frame. li'uetion wheels mounted on :mid traine. a. llexilile tread mounted on said wheels. an :i1-nl attached to said fr'alne between said wheels. i tread frame resiliently suspended fi'oin said ui'nl, Suid tread rame being' provided with u plnrality of runners for engagiizg' Suid tread and supporting said lii'stdnuned lmnie. und means interposed between smid runnen l'oiconnecting said trend frame with smid :mn in suela wise that the former and move up and down I'elaltiveliy tu the liter. 11. In a tractor, :i frame` trat-tion wheel mounted 0n Suid fi'mne, :l flexible trend mounted on Suid wheels. an ai'rn Mtnl-lied to said frame between said wheels; :l trend frame resiliently suspended from mid :lz-ni` said fread frame being provided with i plm muy oseillztte rality of annular trucks, movable chains of bearing elements mounted on said tracks and enacting with said tlelgble trend. u sub stainilally horizontally disposed pin carried tread frame und extendingr between pivotnllw mounted on tlbly engaging said arm. H0

2. In a, truetor, a frame, traction wheels mounted on said f raune, :l flexible trend mounted on said wlieel. a support uttzn'lied to said ll'nnie :ind exendin, iF between said wheels, means interpoed between said sup` port and Said ti'ezul for' preventing the lutter from bendingr upwardly. sind nit-:111s l'or pivotzilly und slidzxhlv eonueetingf said lzwtnnuned nienns to smid support.

n testimony whereof. I lmvo sullsei'ibed 1U my nume.

(.izonoiz i,.\wnnxti: icie'iz. 'itnesses.

Fiumimx I. BRowN, litt'l. (Melun-1. 

